How to Stand Up, Cainanite

[StefanIsMe]

What can I say?

I can only ask questions....

How do you do it, man? I know you work a real job; how do you write these meaty, fully-formed stories while maintaining a life?

Heck I only work four eleven-hour days a week and I can barely write a short chapter every six months... and I type 80-plus words per minute!

Speaking of which, I admire the characterization you wedge in. No cardboard cutouts here, folks, these are characters you can feel.

Thank you so much, Cainanite.

People, this guy is responsible for the new existance of the vast majority of the old stories (he has edited/reformatted most of them for us all), but was that enough? No, he also has written the longest, most layered and meaningful story of the New Archive.

You have written a scortcher, my man!

http://www.eunuchworld.org/view.php?storyid=13850

[Cainanite]

Wow. Thank you.

I'm not sure if I deserve that much praise. I've been extraordinarily lax in tackling the old stories for the last number of months. Writing my own stuff, and putting up the new stories has been my priority.

I have two more chapters of How to Stand Up written. I'm waiting on some advice from a friend before I post them. I had a hell of a time with chapter two, and it very nearly defeated me. I'm at a point where I can no longer be objective about it.

Be warned though, this is not going to be a cute drama about little kids in love like the last one. This one is going to be a LOT different. I've been struggling with ideas and concepts that I usually shy away from. How to Stand Up is my attempt to face those fears. I can only hope this new story lives up to expectations.

Thank-you again.

[loveableleopardy]

This is very exciting to already have a sequel to How To Breathe in the works! I am looking forward to reading it, even with the warning.

Your writing is TOTALLY awesome.

[Paolo]

The second chapter of this story is just awesome.

It touches on so many sensitive issues, with the "villain" using every advantage he can to suck our hero in.
I would call it a psychological thriller, this particular chapter, despite the themes of a minor being used for sex. That's not the focus of this chapter; it's more like a passing plot element, as the "how" and "why" of the hero's situation far outshines it.

This is shaping up to be a fantastic novel!

[Cainanite]

The chapter I am working on now, is going to introduce a lot of action to the plot. For those expecting a traditional boy-slave story, be prepared for something very different. Up until now, I have been consciously avoiding using slavery in my writing. It is something my mind rejects. Though I enjoy stories about that subject, my imagination always goes to a different sort of place from where you might expect.

So far, the only action you've read in this story, is Jason knocking out a would-be rapist in the bathroom. That's not even the tip of the iceberg for what comes next. To get into the mood for this story, I've been re-watching The Bourne Identity, Various James Bond stuff, The Jackal, and a lot of other high action, international intrigue sort of movies.

When I read stories like Sander's, Freedom is Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose, My mind goes out into the greater world he implies. I think of very powerful men, indulging in something very illegal. How do they get away with it? What kind of machinations go on behind the scenes? It seems to me, to be a world of the criminal underworld mixing with statesmen, and political figures. They are rich and influential men who manipulate governments and laws to get away with enslaving boys, and using them for their pleasure. It is a vast and complex world, where infiltrating it comes at great risk. It is a world that even James Bond would fear to try and take down.

I don't want to give away too much of what I have planned, or what I am writing right now, but I'd like my readers prepared. Bullets are going to start flying. People are going to start dying.

I hope some people will stay with me through what comes next.

Let me know what you think. Your feedback is really valuable to me.

And thanks again for the review.

[Paolo]

Chapter 4 is a thrill-a-minute thrill ride that delivers so much that's it hard to put into a review.
There is conversation, emotion, eunuchs, and of course - gunfire and explosions.
What more could one want?
Excellent read!

[Tad.....]

It has been my experience that when StefanIsMe recommends a story, the greater wisdom is to give it a ‘look-see’…once again, there was no disappointment. What Cainanite has created is a fascinating story with characters that grow and develop. It is an unusual premise to be sure yet well with in the realm of believability. Granted the first seemingly disparate chapter does push that limit. Among other issues, why would the protagonist be so quick to accept such a life-threatening challenge? But follow this one along as subsequent chapters cleverly bring this all together…even for those of us who have yet to read Cainanite’s prior story.

This is a well written story full of intrigue and deep characters. Furthermore it appears Cainanite will pull no punches…it’s going to be a gritty wild ride! Three nuts up on the table for this one.

Awesome Cainanite! So where’s that next chapter!?!

Tad

[Cainanite]

...Granted the first seemingly disparate chapter does push that limit. Among other issues, why would the protagonist be so quick to accept such a life-threatening challenge? But follow this one along as subsequent chapters cleverly bring this all together…even for those of us who have yet to read Cainanite’s prior story.
...

So where’s that next chapter!?!

Tad

You make a valid point, about Jason accepting Shahriar's invitation to risk his life. It comes from the relationship the two had in the previous book. I tried to make the story as easy to jump into as possible for people who didn't read the last one, but I still fall back on the stuff I already wrote.

The simple answer is Jason loves Shahriar, and trusts him. He was a major player in who Jason became. The other answer is Jason was really hoping it would be a lot more simple than it is going to be.

On top of that, Jason has his love for Hanna. There is nothing he wouldn't do for her, no fire he wouldn't walk through to get her the help she needs. If doing this keeps her safe, and can save her life, he'll do it. His first thought is always for Hanna. His last thought will still be for Hanna. Once again, I'm perhaps relying too heavily on my last book for that explanation. I'll try to be more conscious of that in future chapters.

Where's the next chapter? Crap. I haven't written it yet. The last three chapters I pounded out in quick succession, and I'm taking a small breather. The last book I had completed before I started posting it. So I could publish quite a few chapters at a time. This one, I'm publishing as I write. It may take a long time.

Thank-you for your feedback. I'll get back on it.

[bella]

Thank you for this story, enjoying it immensely .

[loveableleopardy]

I think that Cainanite explained his trusting of Shahriar and the whole situation during the conversation with Frank on the plane (I haven't read past this point as yet). He mentioned how that if Jason and Hanna didn't leave, that it would feel like they were just waiting for the bad guys to come and kill them at home. So I think that even without reading How To Breathe, and fully understanding the deep love between Hanna and Jason, we can see that in Jason's mind, he didn't really have a choice anyway.